Design of targeted delivery of DNA microplexes on insulin receptors for alveolar cancer

Abstract

Alveolar cancer is caused due to the enzyme protein kinase C that invades the respiratory tract by increasing the number of cancer cells. DNA entrapped inside the formulation stimulates the activity of mitogen activated protein kinase in order to inhibit protein kinase C. The research study was conducted to formulate insulin adsorbed PEI coated DNA-bound microplexes in targeting alveolar cancer. The mixture of chitosan, DNA and β-CD was introduced to continuous magnetic stirring after addition of PEI drop-wise at 150 rpm for 2 h. Gene therapy combined with polymeric microparticulate system creates a novel therapeutic strategy in targeted gene delivery. Evaluation parameters of microplexes involved particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, surface morphology, infrared studies, gel electrophoresis, in-vitro release, stability and cell line studies. Particle size in the range of 1274 ± 13.5 to 1857 ± 14.16 nm and zeta potential −28.27 ± 3.3 to 35.5 ± 2.8 mV confirmed the synthesis of microplexes. The presence of PEI, a non-viral vector in the system led to controlled release of DNA for desired therapeutic effect against A549 cell lines. Entrapment efficiency of DNA was found to be 76.2 ± 2.4% because of optimum amount of chitosan and PEI. Furthermore, in-vitro release of the system showed that the amount of DNA released from the microplexes was 70.7 ± 2.5% at 24 h. Microplexes will be useful as novel system in targeted drug delivery for the treatment of cancer and other disorders such as arthritis, ulcers, etc. in the near future.